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Sagirah Wheeler had three goals when she started the bowling season: to post one of the top three averages in the section, win back-to-back sectional championships and do well at the state tournament.

Four months later, the Mamaroneck senior can check all of them off. She had the highest average in Westchester, a 196.59 that placed her third in the section. She won a second sectional title and placed 13th at the state tournament.

"I was happy that I won the average," The Journal News Westchester/Putnam girls bowler of the year said. "I was with my team (at sectionals), and we were more relaxed and we were having fun. I was bowling really well, so I wasn't really thinking about (the competition) then."

While Wheeler was having fun with her teammates, she also was locked in a heated battle with North Rockland's Danielle Nelson during the afternoon session at sectionals. Wheeler finished the day with a 1,278 six-game series, including four 200-plus games.

Her trip to states put her skills to the test, but after attending a bowling clinic over Christmas break, Wheeler felt her game was stronger than ever this season.

"I changed - not totally, but tweaked - my style," Wheeler said. "I've been bowling a lot better. It's hard to change your style and get used to it."

It's been a long road for Wheeler, who started out on the boys team back in her freshman year because Mamaroneck didn't have a girls program then.

"I'm not used to bowling with girls; I always bowl with guys," Wheeler said. "With the boys, it makes you want to, and have to, keep pace with them. They have more strength, so it's easy for them to string more strikes together. If you can't adjust, you are going to have issues."

The challenges of her freshman season have made Wheeler a better, stronger bowler.

"I've seen the growth in my game, and me, and bowling," she said. "I've actually done a lot better and accomplished a lot of goals.

"My senior year I was like, I know what I want to do and I'm going to go do it."